Dispensing container closure having a frangible seal



Jan. 30, 1968 c. A. BADAVAS ETAL 3,366,289 'DISP-ENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING A FRANGIBLE SEAL Filed Aug. 25, 1966 INVENTORS (HA R1 5 APT/{0A 34941445 ROflfXT FRAZ/[A 0/9614 3 0%? Q M United States Patent 3,366,289 DISPENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING A FRANGIBLE SEAL Charles Arthur Badavas, Needham Heights, Mass., and Robert Frazier Organ, Shelbyville, Tenn., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,147 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-541) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container closure of the twist-off type, having a centrally passaged base element and an upper imperforate stern element integrally connected to the base element at a line of weakness at which said elements may be manually broken apart. Strut-like support members extend radially from the upper stem element and are connected to the base element at points remote from the dispensing passage.

This invention relates to the construction of a closure for a container, and, more particularly, to an improvement in the art of the so-called break-on or twist-off closures for plastic containers.

Twist-off dispensing closures are well known and are commonly used with plastic squeeze containers, such as tubes and bottles. Examples of such closures are described in U.S. Patents 3,204,835 to K. G. Michel and 2,930,063 to M. B. Stull. Generally, these closures are molded integrally, often as an integral part of the container as shown in the above mentioned Patent No. 3,204,835, and include an upper portion which is broken or twisted off to reveal a dispensing aperture through which the contents of the container are dispensed. The break-away member may be designed to function as a reclosure and may be provided with threads or a snap-on bead for reengagement with the container neck, or may be simply plug-shaped for insertion into the dispensing aperture as a friction plug.

A specific object of this invention is the provision of an improved construction of a twist-off closure which facilitates its method of fabrication and guards against inadvertent fracture of the break-away element before end use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a construction of a twist-off dispensing closure wherein the break-away element is integrally attached to the dispensing portion of the closure by means and at locations other than at the usual zone of severance.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a construction of a twist-off dispensing closure with means integrally connecting the break-away and dispensing members of the closure at locations radially remote from the dispensing aperture, which means give support to the closure but which are also readily broken by normal manipulation of the closure on Opening.

These and other objects of this invention will appear from the following description which, together with the accompanying drawings and appended claims, disclose a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred or exemplary form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an upper end view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an alternate form of the invention.

The form of the invention shown in the drawings is illustrated as being integrally attached directly to the dispensing end of a container, in this case a plastic squeeze "ice tube 10. The closure itself, generally designated 11, is also of plastic and is united to the end of tube 10 in any desired fashion such as molding in situ. It will be understood, of course, that closure 11 may be of the type that is detachably connected to the container; e.g. provided with a threaded cap skirt for engagement with the threaded neck of other types of conventional containers.

Closure 11 as shown comprises an upper reclosure element generally designated 12 and a lower dispensing element generally designated 13, the latter forming a portion of the end wall of tube 10. Lower element 13 includes a generally transverse Wall 14 peripherally connected to the side wall of tube 10 and a centrally disposed cylindrically-shaped, hollow hub portion 15 which extends axially above and below wall 14 at its central junction. Hub 15 is hollow and is internally threaded at its lower end, as at 16, to threadably receive upper element 12 as a reclosure in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

Upper reclosure element 12 comprises a central hollow stem 17 which terminates at its upper end in an imperforate plug member 18 which is externally threaded, as at 19, with a male thread which matches and is engageable in female thread 16 of hub 15.

Upper element 12 and lower element 13 are integrally joined at the upper end of hub 15 and lower end of stem 17 at a zone of weakness 20, shown as a circumferential indentation or groove formed in the exterior wall of stem 17 and tapering inwardly to the upper face of hub 15. This enables stem 17 to be neatly broken away from hub 15, thereby exposing the passage in the hub through which the contents of the tube are dispensed.

Radiating outwardly and downwardly from the side wall of stem 17 are a plurality of wings 21. The lower edges of the wings extend from a point just above groove 20 outwardly and downwardly toward the periphery of tube end wall 14, at which point the wings and end wall are integrally joined by thin breakable stakes 22. Wings 21 provide gripping means by which the user may apply a twisting force to stem 17, thereby breaking the stem from hub 15 at weakness groove 20 and also breaking stakes 22 to separate the outer ends of the wings from wall 14. Between each dispensing use, element 12 may be inverted and threaded into hub 15 as a reclosure. In this form, the tapering wings 21 may serve as a tripod pedestal for standing the container upright, if desired.

Radiating wings 21 and stakes 22 perform two important functions. First, they serve to prevent buckling and distortion of the upper and lower closure elements during the brief period after the closure is removed from the forming mold. Thus, the tendency of the hot plastic which forms the closure to buckle or droop, especially in the weak area at groove 20, is overcome. Secondly, the staking of wings 21 to the end wall 141 at additional points remote from the central stem-hub connection guards against accidental fracture of the closure during handling or shipping.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown an alternate form of twist-off closure embodying the principles of this invention. In this form, the upper closure element 12 is provided with 3 wings 21 radiating outwardly from stem 17'. These wings at one end taper toward end wall 14 and are staked thereto at 22', in the same manner as before. At their other ends, the wings taper outwardly and beyond plug member 18' and terminate in a common plane. This provides a tripod base for standing the container upright before it has been opened. The container is opened in the same manner as before by twisting element 12' to break the stakes 22' and the stern wall at 20. After each use, element 12 may be inverted and plug member 18 threaded into hub 15 as a reclosure, in which case the ends of the wings 21' which were previously staked to end wall 14' serve as the tripod pedestal for standing the container upright, as in the preceding embodiment.

It will be readily understood that the upper reclosure element may take on many other forms of decorative figurine or ornamental shapes embodying these same principles, and that radiating members of different shape and structure may be substituted for the wings 21 and 21 disclosed herein.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of. the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A closure for a dispensing container comprising a base element having a central dispensing passage and an upper element integrally connected to said base element at a line of weakness at which said elements may be manually broken apart, said upper element including a central stem overlying said passage and strut-like support members extending radially from said stern and connected to said base element at points remote from said passage.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein said base element includes a generally transverse wall which is connected to an end of the dispensing container.

3. The closure of claim 2 wherein said transverse wall forms the end wall of the dispensing container.

4. The closure of claim 2 wherein said strut-like members are a plurality of wings extending outwardly and downwardly from said stem in close proximity to said transverse wall.

5. The closure of claim 4 wherein said wings are staked at their outer edges to said transverse wall by thin, manually breakable members.

6. The closure of claim 2 wherein said strut-like members extend from just above said line of weakness outwardly and downwardly to points of integral connection with said transverse wall.

7. The closure of claim 1 wherein said base element includes a hollow, hub member defining said passage, and said stem and hub members are provided with means of detachable connection whereby said upper element functions as a reclosure.

8. The closure of claim 1 wherein said strut-like members provide a pedestal base for supporting said container in upright position.

9. The closure of claim 1 wherein said strut-like members at their ends opposite said base element extend beyond said stem and provide a pedestal base for supporting said container in upright position before opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,555 12/1913 Russell 222-541 X 2,750,068 6/1956 Platt 222541 X 3,259,233 7/1966 Beeman 215-42 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

